“I know. You always get it in the cafeteria.” She glanced at Zeke. “I would have brought you a drink too, but I didn’t know what you liked.”

“I’m fine—but I appreciate the thought.”

Kayla sipped her Cherry Coke and turned back to her. “I saw two guys in the lobby talking to the receptionist. I think they’re here to see you. I heard one of the nurses say they’re detectives.”

“Detectives?” Cate crinkled the can in her hand, feigning nervousness. No matter how cool or hip the average teen acted, talking to detectives would be daunting.

“Yeah. I also saw Mr. Tucker pulling up.”

“My cue to leave.” Zeke pulled out his keys. “Take care of yourself until your father gets here tomorrow, Cate.”

“I will. Thanks for helping, Mr. Martinez.”

“Glad to be of assistance. Bye, Kayla.”

“Bye.”

Her roommate watched as he slipped through the door, closing it behind him. “Man, he is hot.”

“I thought you said he was old.”

“Yeah—but when he carried you out from the woods, he looked like one of those heroes on a romance novel cover, you know? The tall, dark, and handsome type.”

Cate snorted. “They don’t exist in real life.”

“They might. Maybe we just haven’t met them yet—although Mr. Martinez comes close, don’t you think?”

“No.”

Kayla dropped back into her chair, eying her. “Your boyfriend treat you bad or something?”

“I don’t have a . . . oh.” Rein in the bitterness, Cate. Stay in character. “You mean the one who moved away?”

“Yeah. Him—or some other guy.”

“My ex-boyfriend has nothing to do with how I feel. I just think getting carried away by make-believe and fairy tales and happily-ever-after is dumb.”

“There’s nothing wrong with dreams.”

“Until they turn into nightmares.”

Kayla sipped her soda, faint pleats scoring her brow. “Somebody you loved hurt you bad, didn’t they?”

Well, shoot.

Either her roommate was way too intuitive or her acting skills were failing her.

In any case, this was not a topic she cared to discuss.

Cate swirled her soda. “We all get hurt by people we love, don’t we? Are you telling me you’ve never had a bad experience with a boyfriend?”

A shadow flitted across the girl’s features. “Sure. But that doesn’t mean all guys are jerks.” She sipped her Coke. “Reverend Wilson says love is the most beautiful gift we can give or receive—but not to expect perfection. Because only one man ever loved perfectly . . . and he was the Son of God. The rest of us have to follow his example as best we can. That means forgiving hurts seventy times seven and being compassionate and giving people who are sincerely sorry a second chance.”

Words of wisdom—and hope—from a seventeen-year-old who had every excuse to be cynical and disillusioned and hard.

Humbling.

God bless Reverend Wilson for encouraging Kayla in her faith.